Billboardhttp://www.businessinsider.com/category/billboard
en-usFri, 18 Aug 2017 01:16:09 -0400Fri, 18 Aug 2017 01:16:09 -0400The latest news on Billboard from Business Insiderhttp://static3.businessinsider.com/assets/images/bilogo-250x36-wide-rev.pngBusiness Insiderhttp://www.businessinsider.com
http://www.businessinsider.com/r-alien-donald-trump-appears-on-mexico-city-billboard-2017-7An artist put up a 'They Live' inspired billboard with an alien Donald Trump in Mexico Cityhttp://www.businessinsider.com/r-alien-donald-trump-appears-on-mexico-city-billboard-2017-7
Sun, 30 Jul 2017 11:56:00 -0400
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/582e089ee02ba72b318b4b5d-2000/rtx2nqul.jpg" alt="Trump Nieto Mexico" data-mce-source="Reuters/Henry Romero" data-mce-caption="Donald Trump and Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto arrive for a press conference at the Los Pinos residence in Mexico City." /></p><p></p>
<p>MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A massive image of U.S. President Donald Trump as an alien intruder now towers above one of the busiest roads in Mexico City urging motorists to "Make America Great Again."</p>
<p>The gaudy billboard sports a caricature of Trump with a blue and red fleshless face beneath his blond hair. It went up above the two-tier inner city ring road known as the Periferico last week after failing to find takers in the United States.</p>
<p>Backed with an American flag, the 13-by-7 meter (43-by-23 feet) placard of a finger-pointing Trump was originally intended to adorn a U.S. city, said its creator, Chicago-based artist Mitch O'Connell.</p>
<p>"America is afraid to put up this tongue-in-cheek billboard," O'Connell told Reuters by telephone. "Then Mexico came to mind because Trump started out his campaign by being cruel and mean to everyone in Mexico."</p>
<p>The White House had no comment on the sign.</p>
<p>A real estate developer and reality TV star-turned politician, Trump sparked fury in Mexico when he launched his campaign for the presidency in 2015 with a pledge to build a massive border wall and accusations that Mexico sent rapists and drug runners across the border.</p>
<p>At the time, O'Connell was working on a poster for a science-fiction and horror film festival featuring John Carpenter's 1988 cult classic "They Live" about aliens living incognito among humans. That project would inspire his vision of Trump.</p>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/597bc1f85124c9ee1fe4dd1b-800/alien-donald-trump-appears-on-mexico-city-billboard.jpg" alt="A giant billboard shows a drawing depicting U.S. President Donald Trump, along Periferico avenue in Mexico City, Mexico, July 28, 2017. REUTERS/Henry Romero" data-mce-source="Thomson Reuters" data-mce-caption="A giant billboard shows a drawing depicting U.S. President Trump in Mexico City" /></p>
<p>About four months ago, O'Connell set up a GoFundMe page to get the image onto a billboard. The campaign raised about $3,000.</p>
<p>He failed in some 30 attempts at pitching the arresting image in Washington, Chicago and other U.S. cities. He said he found no U.S. company "wanted to touch it because it's political."</p>
<p>In the end, the Trump billboard was placed in Mexico and will remain on display for about a month, said Jorge Alderete, an Argentine artist living in Mexico City who helped mount the billboard above the busy highway.</p>
<p>"With every month that passed since I did the drawing two years ago, he has become more like that crazy alien," O'Connell said. "It seems over time he became more and more like the movie, so it became more and more appropriate over time."</p>
<p>(By Anthony Esposito; additional reporting by Steve Holland in Washington; editing by Dave Graham and David Gregorio)</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-ms-13-has-turned-us-into-blood-stained-killing-fields-2017-7" >Trump: The MS-13 gang has turned 'peaceful parks' and 'quiet neighborhoods' in the US into 'blood-stained killing fields'</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-alien-donald-trump-appears-on-mexico-city-billboard-2017-7#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mexico-president-nieto-reacts-donald-trump-executive-order-border-wall-2017-1">'Mexico does not believe in walls': Mexico's president rejects Trump's push for a border wall</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/despacito-justin-bieber-luis-fonsi-most-streamed-song-all-time-2017-7'Despacito' is now the most streamed song of all timehttp://www.businessinsider.com/despacito-justin-bieber-luis-fonsi-most-streamed-song-all-time-2017-7
Wed, 19 Jul 2017 09:47:49 -0400John Lynch
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/596f5ef8abc1c822008b59ce-592/gettyimages-682777868.jpg" alt="luis fonsi" data-mce-source="Kevin Winter/Getty"></p><p></p>
<p>Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's hit single, "Despacito," lifted by a Justin Bieber remix, is now the most streamed song of all time, according to <a href="http://www.universalmusic.com/luis-fonsi-daddy-yankees-despacito-sets-record-streamed-song-time/">Universal Music Latin Entertainment</a>.</p>
<p>The original "Despacito" and its version with Bieber have combined for 4.6 billion streams across all platforms since the song's release in January.</p>
<p>The previous record-holder was Bieber's 2015 single "Sorry," which has accumulated 4.38 billion streams.</p>
<p>"Despacito" has spent 10 straight weeks at the top of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=2&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0ahUKEwihq5yguZXVAhWq6oMKHUpiD1UQqUMILjAB&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.billboard.com%2Farticles%2Fcolumns%2Fchart-beat%2F7866232%2Fdespacito-hot-100-ten-weeks-ed-sheeran-top-5-record&amp;usg=AFQjCNFu2McFwPOVJcuT4O9xtdqO_zQlWw">Billboard's Hot 100</a> singles chart. Fonsi released the song in January before making a play for the charts by adding a Spanish-singing Bieber to it in April.</p>
<p>Sir Lucian Grainge, the chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group, praised Fonsi and "Despacito" in the following <a href="http://www.universalmusic.com/luis-fonsi-daddy-yankees-despacito-sets-record-streamed-song-time/">statement</a>:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"Luis Fonsi already had the undisputed, biggest song of the year — and now he's setting even bigger records. Streaming has opened up the possibility of a song with a different beat, from a different culture, and in a different language to become a juggernaut of success around the world. My congratulations to Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, and Justin Bieber, as well as everyone at Universal Music Latin Entertainment, Republic Records, and Def Jam, on this tremendous accomplishment."</p>
<p>Watch the video for "Despacito" below:</p>
<div>
<iframe width="800" height="380" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/kJQP7kiw5Fk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-artists-all-time-ranked-by-platinum-albums-2017-7" >The 30 best-selling music artists of all time, ranked by platinum albums</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/despacito-justin-bieber-luis-fonsi-most-streamed-song-all-time-2017-7#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-you-may-have-missed-season-7-episode-5-game-of-thrones-hbo-jon-snow-targaryen-dragons-easter-eggs-2017-8">6 details you might have missed on season 7 episode 5 of 'Game of Thrones'</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/highest-paid-musicians-2016-billboard-2017-7The 13 highest-paid musicians of 2016, according to Billboardhttp://www.businessinsider.com/highest-paid-musicians-2016-billboard-2017-7
Fri, 14 Jul 2017 09:04:29 -0400John Lynch
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/584aec9aca7f0cdf1e8b46da-933/undefined" alt="beyonce hold up" data-mce-source="Parkwood Entertainment" /></p><p>Beyonc&eacute; was&nbsp;far and away the highest-earning music artist of 2016, according to Billboard's annual <a href="http://www.billboard.com/photos/7865108/highest-paid-musicians-2016-money-makers">"Money Makers"</a> list.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Billboard's ranking&nbsp;combines artists'&nbsp;US sales, streaming, publishing, and touring revenues for a composite look at who's dominating the music industry each year.</p>
<p>Easily topping the outlet's&nbsp;chart for&nbsp;this year's 50 most successful artists, Ms. Knowles beat out her second-place competition (Guns N' Roses, shockingly) by nearly $20 million.</p>
<p>Check out the&nbsp;top 13 highest-paid music artists of 2016 below and read the <a href="http://www.billboard.com/photos/7865108/highest-paid-musicians-2016-money-makers">entire list here</a>:</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-artists-all-time-ranked-by-platinum-albums-2017-7" >The 30 best-selling music artists of all time, ranked by platinum albums</a></strong></p>
<h3>13. Twenty One Pilots — $21.1 million</h3>
<img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5797611488e4a7f4328ba83c-400-300/13-twenty-one-pilots--211-million.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>12. Rihanna — $22.3 million</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5568497869beddea4da0e1b4-400-300/12-rihanna--223-million.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><h3>11. Billy Joel — $23.6 million</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/57964f9688e4a7531b8ba694-400-300/11-billy-joel--236-million.jpg" alt="" />
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/highest-paid-musicians-2016-billboard-2017-7#/#10-kenny-chesney-254-million-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-albums-by-year-list-2017-7The biggest hit album the year you were bornhttp://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-albums-by-year-list-2017-7
Sat, 08 Jul 2017 11:25:00 -0400John Lynch
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/595a59f5d084cc12098b6fd7-1021/michael jackson-3.jpg" alt="Michael Jackson" data-mce-source="Getty Images / Kevin Mazur" data-link="http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/michael-jackson-performs-in-concert-circa-1986-news-photo/88688373" /></p><p>Each year, one album taps into the hearts and ears of the public on its way to topping the Billboard year-end album chart.</p>
<p>Times have changed, though. In the 2010s, pop stars&nbsp;like Adele and Taylor Swift have dominated the charts, while in the 1950s and early 1960s, musical soundtracks&nbsp;and Broadway cast recordings tended to top the list.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Billboard has been <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_albums_by_year_in_the_United_States">tracking the top album of the year</a> since 1956.&nbsp;From 1992 onward, total album sales were recorded by&nbsp;Nielsen SoundScan. Before 1992, the top album chart was "<span>based on a survey of representative retail outlets that determined a ranking" and was "not a tally of actual sales."</span></p>
<p><span>Business Insider compiled all the best-selling albums and their respective notable singles, dating back to 1956, so you can see, and hear, which album was the soundtrack to your birth year (so long as you're between the ages of 1 and 61).</span></p>
<p><span><span>Check out which album made it to the top each year:</span></span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-songs-of-2017-so-far-kendrick-lamar-drake-dj-khaled-2017-6" >The 25 best songs of 2017 so far, ranked</a></strong></p>
<h3>2016: Drake — "Views"</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/585c1834ee14b651008b4e02-400-300/2016-drake--views.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><strong>Copies sold:</strong><span> 4,140,000</span></p>
<p><strong>Notable&nbsp;singles:</strong><span> <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0ahUKEwj0v82ltO3UAhUDPj4KHSF-Am4QyCkIKzAA&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DuxpDa-c-4Mc&amp;usg=AFQjCNGKa3yP5mTvHWFrqtT6jxqJT99MjQ">"Hotline Bling,"</a> <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiZ0LCytO3UAhXPQD4KHTK5DcYQyCkIKzAA&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dvcer12OFU2g&amp;usg=AFQjCNE7XkUzv8r-Q5_D72vCDtn1wgSy4A">"One Dance"</a></span></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>2015: Adele — "25"</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/56663ff7c2814476008b834c-400-300/2015-adele--25.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><strong>Copies sold:</strong> <span>8,008,000</span></p>
<p><strong>Notable&nbsp;singles:</strong> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQHsXMglC9A">"Hello,"</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDWKuo3gXMQ">"When We Were Young"</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>2014: Taylor Swift — "1989"</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/595a5b69d084cc12098b6fe6-400-300/2014-taylor-swift--1989.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><strong>Copies sold:</strong>&nbsp;3,661,000</p>
<p><strong>Notable singles:</strong> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfWlot6h_JM">"Shake It Off,"</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-ORhEE9VVg">"Blank Space,"</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcIy9NiNbmo">"Bad Blood"</a></p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-albums-by-year-list-2017-7#/#2013-justin-timberlake-the-2020-experience-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-albums-by-year-list-2017-7The biggest hit album the year you were bornhttp://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-albums-by-year-list-2017-7
Mon, 03 Jul 2017 12:50:23 -0400John Lynch
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/595a59f5d084cc12098b6fd7-1021/michael jackson-3.jpg" alt="Michael Jackson" data-mce-source="Getty Images / Kevin Mazur" data-link="http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/michael-jackson-performs-in-concert-circa-1986-news-photo/88688373" /></p><p>Each year, one album taps into the hearts and ears of the public on its way to topping the Billboard year-end album chart.</p>
<p>Times have changed, though. In the 2010s, pop stars&nbsp;like Adele and Taylor Swift have dominated the charts, while in the 1950s and early 1960s, musical soundtracks&nbsp;and Broadway cast recordings tended to top the list.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Billboard has been <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_albums_by_year_in_the_United_States">tracking the top album of the year</a> since 1956.&nbsp;From 1992 onward, total album sales were recorded by&nbsp;Nielsen SoundScan. Before 1992, the top album chart was "<span>based on a survey of representative retail outlets that determined a ranking" and was "not a tally of actual sales."</span></p>
<p><span>Business Insider compiled all the best-selling albums and their respective notable singles, dating back to 1956, so you can see, and hear, which album was the soundtrack to your birth year (so long as you're between the ages of 1 and 61).</span></p>
<p><span><span>Check out which album made it to the top each year:</span></span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-songs-of-2017-so-far-kendrick-lamar-drake-dj-khaled-2017-6" >The 25 best songs of 2017 so far, ranked</a></strong></p>
<h3>2016: Drake — "Views"</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/585c1834ee14b651008b4e02-400-300/2016-drake--views.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><strong>Copies sold:</strong><span> 4,140,000</span></p>
<p><strong>Notable&nbsp;singles:</strong><span> <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0ahUKEwj0v82ltO3UAhUDPj4KHSF-Am4QyCkIKzAA&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DuxpDa-c-4Mc&amp;usg=AFQjCNGKa3yP5mTvHWFrqtT6jxqJT99MjQ">"Hotline Bling,"</a> <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiZ0LCytO3UAhXPQD4KHTK5DcYQyCkIKzAA&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dvcer12OFU2g&amp;usg=AFQjCNE7XkUzv8r-Q5_D72vCDtn1wgSy4A">"One Dance"</a></span></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>2015: Adele — "25"</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/56663ff7c2814476008b834c-400-300/2015-adele--25.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><strong>Copies sold:</strong> <span>8,008,000</span></p>
<p><strong>Notable&nbsp;singles:</strong> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQHsXMglC9A">"Hello,"</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDWKuo3gXMQ">"When We Were Young"</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>2014: Taylor Swift — "1989"</h3>
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/595a5b69d084cc12098b6fe6-400-300/2014-taylor-swift--1989.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><strong>Copies sold:</strong>&nbsp;3,661,000</p>
<p><strong>Notable singles:</strong> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfWlot6h_JM">"Shake It Off,"</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-ORhEE9VVg">"Blank Space,"</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcIy9NiNbmo">"Bad Blood"</a></p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-albums-by-year-list-2017-7#/#2013-justin-timberlake-the-2020-experience-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/drake-hot-100-record-2017-3Drake just broke his most impressive record yethttp://www.businessinsider.com/drake-hot-100-record-2017-3
Tue, 28 Mar 2017 10:02:00 -0400Paul Schrodt
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/58da6bc92dfbdb24008b48ea-2299/undefined" alt="drake happy" data-mce-source="Getty"></p><p>Drake is the undisputed king of hip-hop, and the king of streaming, but now he's taken arguably his most impressive title to date.</p>
<p>Drake's new "playlist" "More Life" (for all intents and purposes, it's an album) already scored the No. 1 album spot on Billboard's chart, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/drake-more-life-no-1-sales-2017-3">breaking his own streaming record</a> at the same time. Now it's also broken the record for the most songs on the Hot 100 singles chart for a solo artist ever, <a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7736706/drake-breaks-hot-100-records-most-hits-solo-artists-more-life-songs" target="_blank">Billboard reports</a>.</p>
<p>Thanks to its streaming power, all 22 tracks on "More Life" are on the Hot 100, along with two other Drake songs. That breaks Drake's own record for the most songs on the Hot 100 at once. But it also passes previous record holder Lil Wayne — and every other solo act in the Hot 100's 58-year history — for the title of most hits: 154 in total for Drizzy.</p>
<p>He did a handy job of jumping ahead of his Young Money record boss and mentor. Weezy had previously broken the record in 2012 with 135 Hot 100 songs, when he passed none other than Elvis Presley (108).</p>
<p>Drake is quite far ahead of friends and competition like Kanye West (81), Jay Z (87), and Nicki Minaj (77), who has the most Hot 100 hits among female solo artists.</p>
<p>Right now both "Passionfruit" and "Portland" off of "More Life" are in the Top 10 of the Hot 100, even though neither has been released as a traditional single. That hasn't stopped fans from making them the next go-to party tracks for spring, though.</p>
<p><strong>You can listen to Drake's "More Life" on Spotify below:</strong></p>
<div>
<iframe src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify%3Aalbum%3A1lXY618HWkwYKJWBRYR4MK" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe>
</div>
<p> </p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/movies-critics-hate-but-people-love-metacritic-2016-11" >50 movies that critics really hate but normal people love</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/drake-hot-100-record-2017-3#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-you-may-have-missed-season-7-episode-5-game-of-thrones-hbo-jon-snow-targaryen-dragons-easter-eggs-2017-8">6 details you might have missed on season 7 episode 5 of 'Game of Thrones'</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/kim-kardashian-tired-talking-taylor-swift-2016-9Kim Kardashian is 'so over' talking about Taylor Swifthttp://www.businessinsider.com/kim-kardashian-tired-talking-taylor-swift-2016-9
Thu, 29 Sep 2016 11:56:00 -0400Kirsten Acuna
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/57ed39b5dd08958c338b4a7d-2400/billboard-kim-kardashian.jpg" alt="billboard kim kardashian" data-mce-source="Billboard"></p><p></p>
<p>Don't ask Kim Kardashian about Taylor Swift.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/magazine-feature/7525611/kim-kardashian-west-kanye-tv-music'">In a new interview with Billboard</a>, the reality star reluctantly opened up about the ongoing feud between her husband Kanye West and the 26-year-old singer. </p>
<p>"I’m so over it," Kardashian told Billboard.</p>
<p>Earlier this year, West's song "Famous" included the controversial lyric, "I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex/Why? I made that b-tch famous."</p>
<p>When West claimed on Twitter that <a href="https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/698146344242958336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">Swift approved the lyric</a>, the singer's rep quickly issued a statement claiming Swift never heard the song and warned the rapper about using a "<a href="http://www.complex.com/music/2016/02/kanye-west-takes-a-jab-at-taylor-swift-on-the-life-of-pablo">misogynistic message.</a>" A few days later, Swift <a href="http://www.complex.com/music/2016/02/taylor-swift-took-a-shot-at-kanye-west-during-her-album-of-the-year-acceptance-speech">threw further shade at West during a Grammy speech</a>.</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/56c27b60dd0895a37e8b4639-2400/gettyimages-510450456.jpg" alt="Taylor Swift Grammys 2016" data-mce-source="Getty Images"></p>
<p>After backing West in a <a href="http://www.complex.com/music/2016/06/kim-kardashian-says-taylor-swift-lied-not-approving-kanye-west-famous-lyric">June GQ cover story</a>, Kardashian went on the offensive revealing that Swift, in fact, was cool with the lyric. In July, she <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/see-kim-kardashian-blast-taylor-swift-on-kuwtk-w429339">released video of a call between the pop singer and West on Snapchat.</a></p>
<p><div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>
Kim exposing the phone call between Kanye and Taylor about his line in Famous. RT to save a life <a href="https://t.co/FLBkEXkJTZ">pic.twitter.com/FLBkEXkJTZ</a> </p>— Claire McVey (@ohaiclaireee) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/754872845629464576">July 18, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></p>
<p>"If it were up to Kanye, it all would probably never have come out," Kardashian explained. "He can handle it, he has no hard feelings. He doesn’t even really care. I just wanted to protect my husband. I saw him getting a lot of sh--."</p>
<p>Kardashian explained she only got involved to get the truth out there so everyone could move on. </p>
<p>"It wasn’t even about a look or anything, or to have this feud — it was like, 'OK, here’s the truth.' Done. Let’s all move on. I feel like I don’t want to talk about her anymore," she said.</p>
<p>The 35-year-old has more things to worry about anyway than a silly feud with Swift. Right now, she's going around with her famous husband on his Saint Pablo tour and has been hitting up fashion weeks in both New York and Paris, not to mention overseeing her multiple hit gaming apps.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/magazine-feature/7525611/kim-kardashian-west-kanye-tv-music">You can read her full interview with Billboard here</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kim-kardashian-tired-talking-taylor-swift-2016-9#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-7-people-arya-stark-kill-list-game-of-thrones-hbo-deaths-prayer-2017-8">Here's everyone left on Arya Stark's kill list on 'Game of Thrones'</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/drake-one-dance-song-of-the-summer-2016-9It's official: Drake had the song of the summerhttp://www.businessinsider.com/drake-one-dance-song-of-the-summer-2016-9
Wed, 07 Sep 2016 14:41:04 -0400John Lynch
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/57d0367a09d29327008b664c-2400/rtr3ffzo.jpg" alt="Drake" data-mce-source="Mark Blinch/Reuters" /></p><p><a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7496158/drake-one-dance-song-of-the-summer-2016">Billboard</a> has officially crowned&nbsp;Drake's "One Dance" single as the No. 1 song of the summer.</p>
<p>The Wizkid and Kyla-featured&nbsp;track topped the publication's annual <a href="http://www.billboard.com/charts/summer-songs">Songs of the Summer chart</a>, which measures&nbsp;the most popular Billboard hits on a weekly basis from&nbsp;Memorial Day through&nbsp;Labor Day.</p>
<p>This is the first time Drake has won the summer singles chart, and he did so in a resounding fashion, as "One Dance" reportedly led the&nbsp;list for each of its&nbsp;14 weeks of measurement.&nbsp;</p>
<p>According to Billboard, the success of "One Dance"&nbsp;was largely due to its dominance on radio. The song&nbsp;gained a "monstrous 2 billion in radio audience" over the course of the summer.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop the Feeling" came in at No. 2 on the list for the period, despite the fact that it was the&nbsp;best-selling song of the summer with 1.28 million downloads.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Here are the top 10 songs of the summer, according to Billboard:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Drake &mdash; "One Dance"</li>
<li>Justin Timberlake &mdash; "Can't Stop The Feeling"</li>
<li>The Chainsmokers &mdash; "Don't Let Me Down"</li>
<li>Sia &mdash; "Cheap Thrills"</li>
<li>Calvin Harris &amp; Rihanna &mdash; "This Is What You Came For"</li>
<li>Desiigner &mdash; "Panda"</li>
<li>Rihanna &mdash; "Needed Me"</li>
<li>Twenty One Pilots &mdash; "Ride"</li>
<li>Fifth Harmony &mdash; "Work From Home"</li>
<li>Adele &mdash; "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)"</li>
</ol><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/spotifys-songs-of-the-summer-2016-2016-9" >These were the top songs of the summer, according to Spotify</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/drake-one-dance-song-of-the-summer-2016-9#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hbo-westworld-2017-comic-con-trailer-dr-ford-2018-2017-7">Here's the first trailer for the second season of 'Westworld'</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/frank-ocean-left-def-jam-blonde-sued-2016-8Frank Ocean ditched his label for his lucrative new album — and now he might get suedhttp://www.businessinsider.com/frank-ocean-left-def-jam-blonde-sued-2016-8
Thu, 25 Aug 2016 11:57:19 -0400John Lynch
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/57bf13cc09d293d10f8b465d-893/frank-ocean-novacane.jpg" alt="frank ocean novacane" data-mce-source="Def Jam" /></p><p>Frank Ocean made an enterprising move to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/frank-ocean-left-def-jam-blonde-2016-8">independently release</a> his new&nbsp;album "Blonde" on Saturday without the involvement of his former label Def Jam or Universal Music Group (UMG), its parent company. But as <a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7487032/frank-ocean-endless-album-straw-broke-universal-music-back-may-get-sued">Billboard reports</a>, the R&amp;B singer's&nbsp;crafty and potentially lucrative manuever could&nbsp;get him sued.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Ocean reportedly fulfilled his recording contract with Def Jam on Friday by releasing a visual album, "Endless," on Apple Music. In doing so, Ocean freed himself up to release "Blonde" &mdash; his proper second album, which <a href="http://www.metacritic.com/music/blonde/frank-ocean">critics are lauding</a> &mdash; as an Apple Music exclusive the next day,&nbsp;<span>through his new independent label called Boys Don't Cry.</span></p>
<p>According to Billboard, Ocean's strategy has "<span>increased his potential profit&nbsp;share from 14 percent to 70 percent" for the sales and streaming of "Blonde," which is on track to earn&nbsp;<span>225,000 to 250,000 equivalent album units and&nbsp;</span>debut at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span>As a result, UMG has missed out on the long-awaited work of one of its hottest artists. Stuck with "Endless," a visual album that isn't for sale, Universal stands to lose a significant profit. </span></p>
<p><span>One source has&nbsp;speculated to Billboard that UMG may have grounds to sue Ocean, though other&nbsp;sources close to the situation at Def Jam have told the outlet that<span>&nbsp;"no legal action against Ocean is currently being considered."</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>The one-day window&nbsp;between "Endless" and "Blonde" would likely be UMG's foremost point of legal contention with Ocean. As Billboard notes, most standard recording contracts have "<span>minimum-delivery clauses," wherein an artist can only fulfill his or her contract by delivering albums within a set time frame and at "<span>a label-acceptable level of quality."</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span>In other words, it's very possibly Ocean violated his contract by releasing another album on the heels of his last delivered for Def Jam.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span>Nonetheless, Ocean's controversial move has certainly made waves in the industry and brought more scrutiny to the concept of streaming exclusives for artists.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span>According to a report&nbsp;from music industry insider Bob Lefsetz, UMG&nbsp;has effectively&nbsp;</span><a href="http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/2016/08/23/universal-ends-exclusives/">banned streaming exclusives</a><span>&nbsp;following the release of "Blonde." </span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span>As <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2016/8/24/12627578/frank-ocean-blonde-apple-music-exclusive-universal">The Verge</a> notes, the prospect of influential artists leaving the major-label system for streaming services has long frightened labels and could&nbsp;"<span>cause a power shift that the industry hasn&rsquo;t experienced since iTunes hit the scene in 2003."</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>UMG has not yet responded to a request for comment from Business Insider.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-frank-ocean-debuts-blonde-his-1st-album-in-4-years-2016-8" >Frank Ocean debuts 'Blonde,' his 1st album in 4 years</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/frank-ocean-left-def-jam-blonde-sued-2016-8#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/details-game-of-thrones-season-7-episode-4-hbo-jon-snow-daenerys-2017-8">8 details you might have missed on season 7 episode 4 of 'Game of Thrones'</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/kanye-west-passes-michael-jackson-for-top-40-hits-2016-8Kanye West just passed Michael Jackson for a music milestonehttp://www.businessinsider.com/kanye-west-passes-michael-jackson-for-top-40-hits-2016-8
Tue, 09 Aug 2016 10:38:12 -0400John Lynch
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/57a9e129db5ce950008b584f-2400/rtr47q78.jpg" alt="Kanye west" data-mce-source="Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters" data-mce-caption="Kanye West."></p><p>Kanye West has officially dethroned the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, by passing the late singer on the list of artists with the most top 40 hits of all time.</p>
<p>West's collaboration with rapper ScHoolboy Q on the single <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ_DHRI-Xp0">"THat Part,"</a> from ScHoolboy's recent album, "Blank Face LP," earned West his 40th hit on the top 40 chart, <a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7461711/hot-100-chart-moves-shawn-mendes-treat-better-kanye-michael-jackson">Billboard reports</a>. </p>
<p>West now has the tenth most top 40 hits by a male artist of all time, after passing Jackson and '60s pop singer Frankie Valli, both of whom had 39 hits on the chart. </p>
<p>Here's how the list of male artists with the most top 40 hits currently stands, according to <a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7461711/hot-100-chart-moves-shawn-mendes-treat-better-kanye-michael-jackson">Billboard</a>:</p>
<ol>
<li>Elvis Presley — 80</li>
<li>Lil Wayne — 69</li>
<li>Elton John — 57</li>
<li>Drake — 53 </li>
<li>Stevie Wonder — 46</li>
<li>Jay Z — 45</li>
<li>James Brown — 44</li>
<li>Chris Brown — 42</li>
<li>Marvin Gaye — 41</li>
<li>Kanye West — 40</li>
</ol>
<p><span style="line-height: 22.5px;">Listen to West's first top 40 single, 2003's "Through the Wire," below.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 22.5px;"><div>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/rV_Dl9H8t9g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-kanye-west-hints-at-possible-collaboration-with-drake-2016-8" >Kanye West hints at a collaborative album with Drake</a></strong></p>
<p><strong>THEN READ:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ranked-the-10-best-albums-so-far-this-year-2016-7" >RANKED: The 10 best albums we've heard so far this year</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kanye-west-passes-michael-jackson-for-top-40-hits-2016-8#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/7-details-season-7-episode-3-of-game-of-thrones-hbo-dragons-jon-snow-daenerys-targaryen-tyrion-lannister-easter-eggs-2017-7">7 details you might have missed on season 7 episode 3 of 'Game of Thrones'</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/billboard-hot-100-began-58-years-ago-here-are-the-top-hits-from-1958-2016-8These were the top hit songs 58 years ago, when rock 'n' roll was bornhttp://www.businessinsider.com/billboard-hot-100-began-58-years-ago-here-are-the-top-hits-from-1958-2016-8
Thu, 04 Aug 2016 16:19:00 -0400John Lynch
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/57a383cace38f27d328b4b1d-600/hardheadedwoman_slvfrnt_mj.jpg" alt="elvis hard headed woman" data-mce-source="RCA Victor"></p><p>On August 4, 1958, Billboard magazine launched its first Billboard Hot 100 chart.</p>
<p>When the chart ranking premiered that day in print, <a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6655650/hot-100-co-creator-seymour-stein-interview">Billboard was tracking the nation's top songs</a> through a formula that encompassed "such factors as [radio] disc jockey plays, jukebox activity, and record sales."</p>
<p>The '50s kicked off the heyday of radio and the dominance of rock 'n' roll, which got its name in the decade.</p>
<p>Today, radio airplay still counts for a third of Billboard's song ranking formula, while downloads, physical sales, and streaming — the <a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6655650/hot-100-co-creator-seymour-stein-interview">"modern-era, digital jukebox"</a> — make up the rest. The sound of radio is, of course, much different now.</p>
<p><strong>Check out which songs made the top 10 on Billboard's first Hot 100 list:</strong></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hit-song-year-of-birth-2016-5" >The biggest hit song the year you were born</a></strong></p>
<p><strong>MORE HERE:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-albums-by-year-2016-6" >The biggest hit album the year you were born</a></strong></p>
<h3>10. Peggy Lee — 'Fever'</h3>
<p><p><biembeddedobject id="f1f28234-cd34-4e9d-9faf-b6099d08da9f" style="width: 800px; height: 450px;" class="youtube">Youtube Embed:<br />http://www.youtube.com/embed/X7_k_0dKknA<br />Width: 800px<br />Height: 450px</biembeddedobject></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>9. Johnny Otis — 'Willie and the Hand Jive'</h3>
<p><p><biembeddedobject id="0afcdfe1-9a8a-4e92-aae9-213053741d88" style="width: 800px; height: 450px;" class="youtube">Youtube Embed:<br />http://www.youtube.com/embed/9kIswurDJt4<br />Width: 800px<br />Height: 450px</biembeddedobject></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>8. Jack Scott — 'My True Love'</h3>
<p><p><biembeddedobject id="bae12a20-9719-45e3-9664-c52ec5af7b85" style="width: 800px; height: 450px;" class="youtube">Youtube Embed:<br />http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ihczg3RFZ-E<br />Width: 800px<br />Height: 450px</biembeddedobject></p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/billboard-hot-100-began-58-years-ago-here-are-the-top-hits-from-1958-2016-8#/#7-the-coasters--yakety-yak-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/drake-tops-the-billboard-charts-for-a-ninth-week-from-streaming-sales-2016-7Drake is dominating the charts by doing something no other artist has ever donehttp://www.businessinsider.com/drake-tops-the-billboard-charts-for-a-ninth-week-from-streaming-sales-2016-7
Tue, 05 Jul 2016 10:12:43 -0400John Lynch
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/577bb65b88e4a71b008b5d37-2400/rtr3ffzo.jpg" alt="Drake" data-mce-source="Mark Blinch/Reuters" /></p><p>Drake's album "Views" has topped the Billboard 200 album chart for its ninth straight week&nbsp;&mdash;&nbsp;the longest consecutive streak for an album since Adele's "21" dominated the charts for 10 straight weeks in 2012, according to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/05/arts/music/drake-views-ninth-week-chart-lemonade-beyonce.html?_r=0">The New York Times</a>.</p>
<p>Drake's album&nbsp;began its run on the charts with an explosive first week that tallied <a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7357991/drake-views-debuts-851000-sold-first-week">852,000 physical album sales</a>, but since then, "Views" has&nbsp;stuck around largely on the strength of its streaming.</p>
<p>This past week, Drake topped the chart with 110,000 album equivalent sales, according to Nielsen Music, but streaming comprised the vast majority of this figure.</p>
<p>Since "Views" only sold 25,000 physical copies in the last week,&nbsp;close to&nbsp;77% of its&nbsp;"sales" came from the album's nearly 100 million streams across services like Apple Music, Spotify, and Tidal, according to <a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7424028/drake-views-no-1-for-ninth-week-on-billboard-200-album-chart">Billboard</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>With its nine-week streak at the top of the chart, "Views"&nbsp;is the first&nbsp;album to make such a consecutive run with streaming as a significant percentage of its sales since <a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6320099/billboard-200-makeover-streams-digital-tracks">Billboard changed its charts to include streaming figures</a> in November 2014. Taylor Swift notably kept her blockbuster <a href="http://time.com/3554468/why-taylor-swift-spotify/">album "1989" off of streaming services</a> upon its release that year, and Adele did the same with last year's "25" until <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/adele-25-now-on-major-streaming-services-2016-6">several weeks ago</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>As <a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7424028/drake-views-no-1-for-ninth-week-on-billboard-200-album-chart">Billboard&nbsp;notes</a>, Drake is also the first male artist to top the charts for nine consecutive weeks in over 10&nbsp;years. The last male artist to tally even nine nonconsecutive weeks atop the chart was Usher with his 2004 album "Confessions."</p>
<p>Drake has the chance to make history next week, as another consecutive week at No. 1 would tie Adele's behemoth "21" for 10 straight weeks atop the chart.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Either way, Drake has set a new precedent for what it means to be a blockbuster album in the age of streaming.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/drake-house-in-la-2016-5" >Inside Drake's $8 million mansion with a pool that puts Hugh Hefner to shame</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/drake-tops-the-billboard-charts-for-a-ninth-week-from-streaming-sales-2016-7#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hbo-westworld-2017-comic-con-trailer-dr-ford-2018-2017-7">Here's the first trailer for the second season of 'Westworld'</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/wiz-khalifas-label-is-suing-him-over-contract-2016-6Rapper Wiz Khalifa's label is suing him for millions for trying to get out of his contracthttp://www.businessinsider.com/wiz-khalifas-label-is-suing-him-over-contract-2016-6
Thu, 30 Jun 2016 10:49:35 -0400John Lynch
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5775269988e4a778008b51d7-2400/wiz khalifa 2.jpg" alt="Wiz Khalifa 2" data-mce-source="Danny Moloshok/Reuters" /></p><p>Rapper Wiz Khalifa is facing a&nbsp;cross-complaint lawsuit from his record label, Rostrum Records, one month after the rapper <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/wiz-khalifa-files-lawsuit-against-label-former-manager-20160601">sued the label</a>&nbsp;in an alleged attempt to&nbsp;free himself from his record contract.</p>
<p>Rostrum Records and its founder&nbsp;<span>Benjy Grinberg placed the countersuit in Los Angeles on Wednesday, stating that their contract with Khalifa entitles them to<span>&nbsp;"receive 15 percent of all royalties earned and received by Khalifa," in addition to "15 percent of his tour proceeds and 20 percent of the rapper's merchandise sales," according to a <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rostrum-records-files-lawsuit-against-wiz-khalifa-20160629">Rolling Stone report</a>. &nbsp;</span></span></p>
<p>Khalifa, whose real name is Cameron Jibril Thomaz, placed his lawsuit against Rostrum and Grinberg in May, seeking more than $1 million in damages and "citing mismanagement" from Grinberg, who was his manager until 2014, according to <a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7423289/rostrum-records-benjy-grinberg-wiz-khalifa-lawsuit">Billboard</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Thomaz reportedly sued Rostrum and Grinberg in an attempt to get out of the 360 deal that he signed with the label in 2005 as a 16-year-old.</p>
<p>In <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rostrum-records-files-lawsuit-against-wiz-khalifa-20160629">documents obtained by Rolling Stone</a>, Thomaz's suit elaborates on Grinberg's "mismanagement," alleging&nbsp;that his former manager and label<span>&nbsp;entered him&nbsp;"into a series of transactions in which Grinberg and Rostrum placed their own interests over those of [Khalifa's]."&nbsp;</span><span></span></p>
<p><span>In their countersuit, Rostrum and Grinberg are reportedly seeking "<span>millions of dollars in unpaid monies" from Thomaz,&nbsp;according to <a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7423289/rostrum-records-benjy-grinberg-wiz-khalifa-lawsuit">a statement from Grinberg sent to Billboard</a>.&nbsp;</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>"<span>To give everything you have to an artist and then be on the receiving end of a fabricated lawsuit is deeply disappointing," Grinberg continued in his statement. "What was alleged is, in fact, the complete opposite of our actions and the antithesis of what Rostrum Records and I stand for. Rostrum looks forward to quickly addressing these baseless claims so we can continue to focus our energies on our artists' success."</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Business Insider has reached out to Wiz Khalifa for comment.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>A hearing for the suit against Khalifa is set for August 1 at&nbsp;a Los Angeles court.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kanye-goes-off-on-wiz-in-wild-tweetstorm-2016-1" >Kanye West melted the internet by trashing Wiz Khalifa with a legendary tweetstorm</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/wiz-khalifas-label-is-suing-him-over-contract-2016-6#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/marvel-second-trailer-for-thor-ragnarok-2017-7">Marvel dropped another trailer for 'Thor: Ragnarok' — and it looks incredible</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-albums-by-year-2016-6The biggest hit album the year you were bornhttp://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-albums-by-year-2016-6
Sun, 26 Jun 2016 10:15:00 -0400John Lynch
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/576d51d691058422008cb457-2400/cliff schiappa ap.jpg" alt="cliff schiappa ap" data-mce-source="Cliff Schiappa/AP; Epic Records" /></p><p>Each year, one album taps into the hearts and ears of the public on its way to topping the Billboard year-end album chart.</p>
<p>Times have changed, though. In the 2010s, superstars&nbsp;like Adele and Taylor Swift have dominated the charts, while in the 1950s and early 1960s, musical soundtracks&nbsp;and Broadway cast recordings tended to top the list.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Billboard has been <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_albums_by_year_in_the_United_States">tracking the top album of the year</a> since 1956.&nbsp;From 1992 onward, total album sales were recorded by&nbsp;Nielsen SoundScan.</p>
<p>Before&nbsp;that, the top album chart was "<span>based on a survey of representative retail outlets that determined a ranking" and was "not a tally of actual sales."</span></p>
<p><span>Business Insider compiled all the best-selling albums and their respective notable singles, dating back to 1956, so you can see, and hear, which album was the soundtrack to your birth year (so long as you're between the ages of 1 and 60).</span></p>
<p><span><span>Check out which album made it to the top of each year below:</span></span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hit-song-year-of-birth-2016-5" >The biggest hit song the year you were born</a></strong></p>
<h3>2015: Adele — "25"</h3>
<img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/576849c452bcd028008ca58a-400-300/2015-adele--25.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><strong>Copies sold:</strong> 7,441,000</p>
<p><strong>Notable&nbsp;singles:</strong> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQHsXMglC9A">"Hello,"</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDWKuo3gXMQ">"When We Were Young"</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>2014: Taylor Swift — "1989"</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/57684a7a52bcd029008ca60f-400-300/2014-taylor-swift--1989.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><strong>Copies sold:</strong>&nbsp;3,661,000</p>
<p><strong>Notable singles:</strong> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfWlot6h_JM">"Shake It Off,"</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-ORhEE9VVg">"Blank Space,"</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcIy9NiNbmo">"Bad Blood"</a></p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>2013: Justin Timberlake — "The 20/20 Experience"</h3>
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/576854bb52bcd066018ca75e-400-300/2013-justin-timberlake-the-2020-experience.jpg" alt="" />
<p><p><strong>Copies sold:</strong> 2,430,000</p>
<p><strong>Notable singles:</strong> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsUsVbTj2AY">"Suit &amp; Tie,"</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuZE_IRwLNI">"Mirrors"</a></p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-albums-by-year-2016-6#/#2012-adele-21-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/over-200-celebrities-sign-billboard-letter-to-congress-on-gun-control-2016-6Hundreds of celebrities signed an open letter demanding that Congress 'stop gun violence now'http://www.businessinsider.com/over-200-celebrities-sign-billboard-letter-to-congress-on-gun-control-2016-6
Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:29:10 -0400John Lynch
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/576c3a5a910584cc008cb581-1500/lady gaga paul mccartney.jpg" alt="lady gaga paul mccartney" data-mce-source="Ian Gavan; Stuart C. Wilson/Getty" /></p><p></p>
<p>Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry were among the hundreds of celebrities who signed <a href="http://www.billboard.com/open-letter/">an open letter from Billboard magazine</a> to Congress on the issue of gun-control reform on Thursday.</p>
<p>The letter, "An Open Letter to Congress: Stop Gun Violence Now," finds an impressive and extensive list of artists and music-industry executives throwing their voices into "<span>the chorus of Americans demanding change," following the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida.</span></p>
<p><span>"Music always has been celebrated communally, on dancefloors and at concert halls," the letter reads. "But this life-affirming ritual, like so many other daily experiences &mdash; going to school or church or work &mdash; now is threatened, because of gun violence in this country."</span></p>
<p><span>In the letter, Billboard and the celebrity signees call on Congress to implement two measures: to "</span>Require a background check for every gun sale" and to "Block suspected terrorists from buying guns." The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/20/politics/senate-gun-votes-congress/">US Senate rejected both proposals in a recent vote</a>.</p>
<p>The letter is preceded by an editor's note that mentions how musician Joan Jett was the first to sign the letter. Lady Gaga followed suit shortly after, and then, "<span>in a matter of just a few days, nearly 200 top artists and executives" joined the effort.</span></p>
<p><span>Read the <a href="http://www.billboard.com/open-letter/">open letter over at Billboard</a>.</span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/singer-david-byrne-calls-for-gun-control-reform-we-are-at-war-here-2016-6" >Talking Heads singer David Byrne calls for gun-control reform: 'We are at war here'</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/over-200-celebrities-sign-billboard-letter-to-congress-on-gun-control-2016-6#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/democrats-block-spending-bill-to-debate-gun-control-2016-6">FILIBUSTER IN THE SENATE: Democrats block spending bill to debate gun control</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/drake-first-no-1-song-one-dance-2016-5Drake just scored his first No. 1 song, the 'biggest moment' of his career yethttp://www.businessinsider.com/drake-first-no-1-song-one-dance-2016-5
Mon, 09 May 2016 14:42:05 -0400Paul Schrodt
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/561e9d2cbd86efa15c8b6b0a-3177-2383/rtr3fg0w.jpg" alt="Drake" data-mce-source="Reuters" /></p><p>Drake has come close before, but he just <a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7358099/drake-first-hot-100-no-1-lead-artist-one-dance" target="_blank">clinched his first No. 1</a> spot on the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist.</p>
<p>The rapper and singer hit the chart position with "One Dance," featuring WizKid and Kyla, off his new album <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/views/id1108737195" target="_blank">"Views,"</a> also the No. 1 album on Billboard's charts.</p>
<p>Drake has been on the top 10 song list a number of times, and he <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/drake-missed-no-1-apple-2015-10">just missed No. 1</a> previously with "Hotline Bling." Its chart position suffered thanks to his exclusive deal with Apple Music.</p>
<p>The musician has also had No. 1 collaborations with Rihanna on her tracks "Work" and "What's My Name?"</p>
<p>Drake previously said that getting his first No. 1 song would be "<span>the biggest moment of my career to date."</span></p>
<p><span>He also just set another record by being the first artist to ever have 20 songs simultaneously on the Hot 1oo.</span></p>
<p><span>Looks like he has plenty more "Views" celebrating to do.</span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/drake-success-story-2016-4" >The incredibly successful life of Drake, music's most polarizing icon who made $40 million in a year</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/drake-first-no-1-song-one-dance-2016-5#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hbo-westworld-2017-comic-con-trailer-dr-ford-2018-2017-7">Here's the first trailer for the second season of 'Westworld'</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/prince-album-sales-after-death-2016-4Prince album sales surge 16,000% after his deathhttp://www.businessinsider.com/prince-album-sales-after-death-2016-4
Tue, 26 Apr 2016 17:06:47 -0400Paul Schrodt
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/571e3aa19105842b008beab0-997-748/prince-purple-rain%20warner%20bros.jpg" alt="Prince Purple Rain Warner Bros" data-mce-source="Warner Bros."></p><p>Prince's death proved the lasting power of his music.</p>
<p>Though his status on Billboard's charts had faded in previous decades, when the musician died at 57 last Thursday, he sold 239,000 albums just that day, according to Nielsen Music, which tracks sales. Over that weekend, he sold another 399,000 albums.</p>
<p>Those weekend sales were up <span>16,000% over the previous weekend, when just 2,500 Prince albums got bought up.</span></p>
<p><span><span>The surge in sales shot Prince up to the top of the Billboard 200 album chart.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Prince fans have also bought over 2.8 million songs from his output since the death. </span></span></span><span><span><span><span>While Prince was long famous for scrubbing the internet clean of streaming copies of his tracks, it seems like the strategy helped sell a lot of songs while people mourned his loss.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span>Here are the top songs fans have been buying up in droves since Prince died.</span></span></span></span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/prince-photos-2016-4" >Prince's incredible life: The 16 most memorable photos of the musician</a></strong></p>
<h3>1. "Purple Rain"</h3>
<p><p>When you think of Prince, the first thing to come to mind is surely "Purple Rain," both the album and the movie it accompanied. The title song, one of the artist's more rock-centric efforts, has moved people to wave their lighters (and cellphones) the world over.</p>
<p><biembeddedobject id="4130078c-28f0-40e2-9b7a-86ec24a05229" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" class="youtube mceNonEditable">Youtube Embed:<br />http://www.youtube.com/embed/qsdR8eycRys<br />Width: 800px<br />Height: 600px</biembeddedobject></p>
<p class="embed-spacer">&nbsp;</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>2. "When Doves Cry"</h3>
<p><p>The stark and emotional song, from "Purple Rain," was&nbsp;Prince's first No. 1 American hit.</p>
<p><biembeddedobject id="caf307db-38df-47e8-8498-5b7708fb03a1" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" class="youtube mceNonEditable">Youtube Embed:<br />http://www.youtube.com/embed/x_tonrrxvYA<br />Width: 800px<br />Height: 600px</biembeddedobject></p>
<p class="embed-spacer">&nbsp;</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>3. "Little Red Corvette"</h3>
<p><p>Off of Prince's "1999" album," this single was supposedly inspired by Prince falling asleep in his The Revolution band member Lisa Coleman's pink Edsel.</p>
<p><biembeddedobject id="2e07e69c-b0be-4308-b1a0-2357a1dc2aaa" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" class="youtube mceNonEditable">Youtube Embed:<br />http://www.youtube.com/embed/MaCeESSYsP4<br />Width: 800px<br />Height: 600px</biembeddedobject></p>
<p class="embed-spacer">&nbsp;</p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/prince-album-sales-after-death-2016-4#/#4-lets-go-crazy-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/prince-sales-after-death-most-popular-songs-2016-4Prince shot to the top of the charts after his death — here's what people are listening tohttp://www.businessinsider.com/prince-sales-after-death-most-popular-songs-2016-4
Mon, 25 Apr 2016 11:46:08 -0400Paul Schrodt
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/571e3aa19105842b008beab0-997-748/prince-purple-rain%20warner%20bros.jpg" alt="Prince Purple Rain Warner Bros" data-mce-source="Warner Bros."></p><p>Prince's death proved the lasting power of his music.</p>
<p>Though his status on Billboard's charts had faded in the previous two decades, in the three days following his <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/prince-is-dead-2016-4">untimely death at 57</a>, Prince sold over <span>579,000 albums, as tracked by Nielsen Music.</span></p>
<p><span>That's an increase <span>of over 42,000% over the prior three days, Nielsen said in a press release, and took him to the top of the Billboard 200 album chart.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>The most popular album has been <span>"The Very Best of Prince," which sold over 250,000 albums in the three-day period, while <span>"Purple Rain" had over 133,000 sales.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span>There were also 2.3 million Prince song sales in that time after his death. While Prince was long famous for scrubbing the internet clean of streaming copies of his tracks, it seems like the strategy helped sell a lot of songs while people mourned his loss.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span>Here are the top songs fans were buying up in droves after Prince died.</span></span></span></span></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/prince-photos-2016-4" >Prince's incredible life: The 16 most memorable photos of the musician</a></strong></p>
<h3>1. "Purple Rain" (287,000 sales)</h3>
<p><p>When you think of Prince, the first thing to come to mind is surely "Purple Rain," both the album and the movie it accompanied. The title song, one of the artist's more rock-centric efforts, has moved people to wave their lighters (and cellphones) the world over.</p>
<p><biembeddedobject id="4130078c-28f0-40e2-9b7a-86ec24a05229" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" class="youtube mceNonEditable">Youtube Embed:<br />http://www.youtube.com/embed/qsdR8eycRys<br />Width: 800px<br />Height: 600px</biembeddedobject></p>
<p class="embed-spacer">&nbsp;</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>2. "When Doves Cry"</h3>
<p><p>The stark and emotional song, from "Purple Rain," was&nbsp;Prince's first No. 1 American hit.</p>
<p><biembeddedobject id="caf307db-38df-47e8-8498-5b7708fb03a1" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" class="youtube mceNonEditable">Youtube Embed:<br />http://www.youtube.com/embed/x_tonrrxvYA<br />Width: 800px<br />Height: 600px</biembeddedobject></p>
<p class="embed-spacer">&nbsp;</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>3. "Little Red Corvette"</h3>
<p><p>Off of Prince's "1999" album," this single was supposedly inspired by Prince falling asleep in his The Revolution band member Lisa Coleman's pink Edsel.</p>
<p><biembeddedobject id="2e07e69c-b0be-4308-b1a0-2357a1dc2aaa" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" class="youtube mceNonEditable">Youtube Embed:<br />http://www.youtube.com/embed/MaCeESSYsP4<br />Width: 800px<br />Height: 600px</biembeddedobject></p>
<p class="embed-spacer">&nbsp;</p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/prince-sales-after-death-most-popular-songs-2016-4#/#4-lets-go-crazy-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/clear-channel-advertisers-phones-att-billboard-times-square-new-york-los-angeles-2016-2Billboards are going to start tracking you using your phonehttp://www.businessinsider.com/clear-channel-advertisers-phones-att-billboard-times-square-new-york-los-angeles-2016-2
Mon, 29 Feb 2016 12:33:05 -0500Emma Fierberg
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1">AT&amp;T has paired up with Clear Channel Outdoor on a new billboard endeavor using new technology called Radar. The billboards will be able to track the phones of passersby to monitor how effective the advertising is.</span></p>
<p><em>Produced by <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/author/emma-fierberg">Emma Fierberg</a><br></em></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> </span></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/clear-channel-advertisers-phones-att-billboard-times-square-new-york-los-angeles-2016-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/kanye-west-the-life-of-pablo-not-in-charts-tidal-wont-release-streaming-data-2016-2Kanye West's new album isn't in the charts because Tidal hasn't released streaming datahttp://www.businessinsider.com/kanye-west-the-life-of-pablo-not-in-charts-tidal-wont-release-streaming-data-2016-2
Tue, 23 Feb 2016 06:19:43 -0500Rob Price
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/56cc4064dd0895e1048b457a-2667-2000/gettyimages-509642156.jpg" alt="Kanye West" data-mce-source="Getty" /></p><p>Kanye West's latest album won't be appearing in the charts any time soon.</p>
<p><a href="http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/02/22/adele-is-back-on-top-but-kanye-wests-album-doesnt-make-chart/?_r=2">As The New York Times reports</a>, streaming platform Tidal isn't giving out any data about how much it has been streamed &mdash; so Billboard can't include it.</p>
<p>"Billboard has been informed that Tidal is not currently reporting streams for tracks on Kanye&rsquo;s album to Nielsen Music," Billboard's VP of charts and data development Silvio Pietroluongo said. "Therefore streams from Tidal for this title will not contribute to Billboard&rsquo;s chart rankings at this time."</p>
<p>Whether or not Tidal releases streaming data is down to the artist &mdash; in this instance, the rapper&nbsp;has opted not to make it public, and he's not in the charts as a result.</p>
<p>"The Life of Pablo" (TLOP), released earlier in February, is Kanye West's seventh studio album.</p>
<p>The launch has been at times disorientating. Kanye &mdash; AKA Yeezy &mdash; jumped between multiple names for the album before finally settling on TLOP, and posted frequently updated track listings on Twitter as he worked.</p>
<p>On February 12, he debuted the album at a show at Madison Square Garden alongside his latest fashion line &mdash; but continued to change the track listing until its public launch two days later.</p>
<p>It did not go smoothly: Initially available to buy on his website, users encountered issues trying to buy it, and the download option has now been removed altogether. <a href="https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/699376240709402624">Yeezy now says the album will </a>"never be for sale," forcing users to install Tidal, the Jay Z-owned streaming platform he has a stake in, to listen.</p>
<p>Throughout this all, Kanye has been tweeting a surreal stream-of-consciousness from this Twitter account &mdash; alternately picking fights with ex-girlfriends and <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/kanye-west-asks-mark-zuckerberg-larry-page-for-a-billion-dollars-2016-2">asking Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg for a billion dollars</a>.</p>
<p>But even without Tidal's streaming data, we know TLOP is pretty popular. <a href="http://fortune.com/2016/02/18/500000-kanye-west-life-of-pablo/">More than half a million people have pirated it</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kanye-west-the-life-of-pablo-not-in-charts-tidal-wont-release-streaming-data-2016-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/james-damore-interview-video-2017-8">Fired Google engineer says his memo actually empowered women</a></p>